SS Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church

MARCH 28, 2021

Saturday, March 27 –  4:00 PM – Blessing of Palms & Willow Branches  

Myrovania – Anointing with Holy Oil 

God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Sunday, March 28 – 8:30 AM –  PALM SUNDAY 

    Myrovania – Anointing with Holy Oil

                                                   Helen Youells – Vera Hubick 

Tuesday, March 30 – 4:00 PM – Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts – Confessions

Wednesday, March 31 – 6:30- Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts – NANTICOKE

Anointing 

Thursday, April 1 HOLY THURSDAY

 3:00 PM Matins of the Passion of Our Lord 

Reading of the 12 Passion Gospels

Friday, April 2 Good Friday 

 1:00 PM Vespers – Procession – Entombment of Jesus Christ

Saturday, April 3 HOLY SATURDAY 

6:00 PM             Resurrection Matins / Procession / Easter Divine Liturgy

                           Blessing of Artos – Myrovania – Anointing with Holy Oil

Blessing Easter Foods / Baskets

Sunday, April 4 EASTER SUNDAY – EASTER DIVINE LITURGY

           11:30 AM             Anointing with Holy Oil – Myrovania

Blessing Easter Foods / Baskets

Transfiguration of Our Lord

Holy Thursday – 6:30PM – Good Friday – 5:30PM – Easter Sunday – 7:00 AM – Resurrection Matins, Divine Liturgy

SATURDAY OF LAZARUS

Saturday before Palm Sunday

Jesus Christ wrought many miracles during His lifetime abut none was so rich in its effects as the resurrection of Lazarus.

This miracle marks the apex of Christ’s self-revelation.  The magnitude of this miracle and the publicity attending it were the immediate causes of Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.

May this great and wonderful miracle of the resurrection of Lazarus strengthen also our faith in the divinity of Christ and in our own personal resurrection. That same Christ, who raised the four-day Lazarus from the dead, in His own time, will raise us also to a life of eternal happiness. He Himself assured us of this when He said: “I am the Resurrection and Life. Whoever believes in me, even though he dies, shall live!”

PALM SUNDAY

The festival of the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem is one of the oldest feast days in the Eastern Church.  In our liturgical books this day is called, “Sunday of the Palms”, “Flower or Blossom Sunday”, “Flower or Blossom-bearing Sunday”. Our people call this Sunday the “Sunday of Pussy-Willows or Willow Sunday. All these names are associated with the custom of blessing and distributing palm on that day in church. Because no palm or olive trees grow in our country, we have a venerable custom of using willow branches, a tree that is the first to blossom in the spring.

The spiritual meaning of Palm Sunday

 The Jews wanted to see their messiah in power and glory.  According, Jesus Christ, by raising Lazarus from the dead and by His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, gave them clear proof of His power and glory. When He entered Jerusalem, all the city was thrown into commotion saying: “Who is this?” But the crowds kept on saying: “This is Jesus the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.’”  

The honor given to Christ lasted for only a brief moment, for His betrayal by Judas, His rejection by the people, His condemnation by the Jewish leaders, His passion, the way of the cross and crucifixion followed in quick succession. These very same people who, on Sunday cried out, “Hosanna”, within a few days would be crying out: “Crucify Him.”

Palm Sunday teaches us the instability of worldly glory and the vanity of earthly happiness. Joy and sadness here on earth are two inseparable sisters. Therefore, if we wish one day to have a share in the triumph of Christ in heaven, we must first undergo a Passion Week and a Golgotha with Him here on earth. Only then, will we be able, like Him, to enter into everlasting triumph, joy and resurrection.

Blessing of Pussy Willows and Palms

The blessing of pussy willows and palms comes during the matins (morning prayer), the proper time for blessing of the pussy willows and palms if there is no matins is at the beginning of the Divine Liturgy so that the people may hold them during the entrance of our Blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ during the Small and Great Entrances and during the reading of the Gospel, The Good News of Jesus Christ!

SS PETER AND PAUL

UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

PLYMOUTH, PA

PALM SUNDAY 

MARCH 28, 2021

CHRIST’S TRIUMPHANT

ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM.

The sixth Sunday of Lent is called Palm Sunday because it commemorates the triumphal entry of Our Lord Jesus into Jerusalem. The people having assembled in Jerusalem for the Pasch and went out to meet Jesus, greeting Him with palms.

MARY OF EGYPT VENERABLE

MARCH 21, 2021

Saturday, March 20 FIFTH SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

             4:00 PM God’s Blessings, Health and Salvation for all Parishioners

Sunday, March 21   FIFTH SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

MARY OF EGYPT VENERABLE

8:30 AM Michael Hubiack – Wife Louise Hubiack

  Wednesday, March 24

      4:00 PM Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts 

    Thursday, March 25 Annunciation of the Theotokos

9:00 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners Anointing with Holy Oil – Myrovania

   Saturday, March 27 PALM SUNDAY

Blessing of Palms & Willow Branches, 

  4:00 PM Myrovania – Anointing with Holy Oil God’s Blessings, Health and Salvation for all Parishioners

Sunday, March 28 PALM SUNDAY

Blessing of Palms & Willow Branches, blessing with Holy Oil

      8:30 AM Helen Youells – Vera Hubick

St. Mary of EgypT

On the Fifth Sunday of Lent we remember St. Mary of Egypt, the repentant harlot.  Mary tells us, first of all, that no amount of sin can keep a person from God if the sinner truly repents.  In addition, St. Mary tells us that it is never too late, either in life to repent.  Christ will gladly receive all who come to Him, even at the last minute of their lives.  However, their coming must be in sincere repentance.

ANNUNCIATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

This feast was established to commemorate the election of the Blessed Virgin Mary to bear the Only Begotten Son, the second Person of the Blessed Trinity. Mary consented freely to the proposal of the Angel who brought her the happy news in the name of the Blessed Trinity.

        The Christians should rejoice at the Incarnation of the Divine Word and the elevation of Mary to Theotokos (Birth-Giver of God), which raises her above the highest rank of the Angels.

 The Feast of the Annunciation 

was introduced in the early times of Christianity.

                                “Behold the handmade of the Lord! 

                                       Let it be done unto me according to Thy word!”

Faith is not a storm cellar to which we can flee for refuge

from the storms of life.

It is instead an inner force that gives us the strength

to face those storms with serenity.

John Climacus, Venerable 

MARCH 14, 2021

Saturday, March 13

4:00 PM  God’s blessings for Lorene Wozniak from Ulana Campbell

Sunday, March 14 

8:30 AM  FOURTH SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Wednesday, Mar. 17

           4:00 PM   Liturgy of the Presanctified Gift

Saturday, Mar. 20  

4:00 PM   God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners                            

Sunday, Mar. 21            FIFTH SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

  MARY OF EGYPT VENERABLE

           8:30 AM            ✞Michael Hubiack – Wife Louise Hubiack  

THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

The Fourth Sunday of Lent is dedicated to St. John Climacus (St. John of the Ladder), the author of the work: The Ladder of Divine Ascent.  St. John was an abbot at St. Catherine’s Monastery on Mount Sinai in the sixth century.  His work encourages the faithful to persevere in their efforts; for, according to the Lord, only “he who endures to the end will be saved;” (Matthew 24:13).

Click to access TheLadderofDivineAscent.pdf

A Crown of Thorns

 A crown of thorns, not fit for a king,
A crown of thorns that would cut and sting,
A crown of thorns placed on Jesus’ head.
“Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” the mockers said.
A crown of thorns so long and cruel,
Instead of a crown made of gold and jewels,
A crown of thorns worn by Jesus, God’s Son,
He bore the horrible pain for everyone.
A crown of thorns worn to the cross,
A crown of thorns worn for those, who were lost,
A crown of thorns placed on Jesus’ head,
“He truly is God’s Son!” some were heard to have said.
A thorn of thorns is a reminder to all,That we can be saved if on His name we call,
A crown of thorns He wore in my place,
I’ll bow before Him when we meet face to face

Use what talents you possess. The woods would be extremely silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.

 Ukrainian Easter Eggs are beautiful expression of mystery and love. Ukrainian ancestors believed that the Easter Eggs bring good fortune, wealth, health and protection from lightning and fire, possess curative power, a pre-figure of God’s Saving Plan.

The Fourth Sunday of Lent – John Climacus – Venerable

The Church reminds her fasting children that despite their natural weaknesses and passions they can become good Christians and images of the Son of God. She points out the example of St. John Climacus (525-605), the saintly abbot of a monastery on Mount Sinai. He became an “angel” in human flesh through fasting and prayer.  In following his example the faithful will attain a high degree of Christian perfection. 

PRAYER

Lord Jesus,
May I remember the sacrifice You made for me, and the humiliation You endured when Your clothing was torn from Your bleeding body.  Strip me of every earthly possession and sinful way that hinders me from reaching union with You. This world has so many ways of clouding my sense of right and wrong and of making what is really important seem insignificant. Give me the grace I need to live a holy life. Instil in my heart the

VENERATION OF THE HOLY CROSS 

MARCH 7, 2021

Saturday, Mar. 6

           4:00 PM              ✞ Eugene Slabinski – Walter, Debbie, Johnathan & Michael 

                                                                                                            Boyson 

Sunday, March 7    THIRD SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

  VENERATION OF THE HOLY CROSS 

8:30 AM            God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners                           

Wednesday, Mar. 10

           4:00 PM       Liturgy of the Presanctified Gift

Saturday, Mar. 13  

4:00 PM   God’s blessings for Lorene Wozniak from Ulana Campbell

Sunday, Mar. 14            FOURTH SUNDAY OF THE GREAT FAST

  John Climacus Venerable

           8:30 AM            God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners                            

TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD

Saturday 6:00 PM – Sunday 10:30 AM 

PRAYER BEFORE THE CRUCIFIX

Ever loving God, bring light 

to the darkness of my heart.

Give me right faith, 

certain hope, and perfect love.

God, give me insight and wisdom,

so I might always discern

Your holy and true will. 

St. Francis of Assisi

SOUP & HOAGIE SALE: St. Nicholas Church, Glen Lyon, is sponsoring a sale of Vegetable Soup $7 a quart and either Turkey or Italian Hoagie $7 each. Pick up on March 18, from 11am to 4pm in the church hall. Orders placed by March 14 by calling Debbie at 570 736 6908. Support our local churches. 

VENERATION OF THE HOLY CROSS

The season of the Great Fast is a special time for mortification and penance, both internal and external. Because this spiritual struggle lasts a longer time, it often happens that we begin the first days or weeks of fasting with great zeal and resolution, but then gradually we become physically and spiritually exhausted, weakened and discouraged. Holy Church knowing well the weakened and instability of our human nature, places before our eyes the holy Cross in the middle of the fast – an extraordinarily powerful incentive to motivate us to persevere in our spiritual struggle. 

On the third Sunday, or mid-Lent, holy Church encourages us to venerate the Cross of our Lord in a very special manner, so that we may be strengthened in spirit. This Sunday, therefore, is called the Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy Cross. 

The holy Cross is designed to remind us of God’s infinite love for us, Christ’s suffering for our sake and our obligation to carry our daily cross courageously. Jesus Christ addressed these words to all of us, “If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow me…He who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 9,23 and 14-27).

The services of this Sunday almost make no mention of the Cross as being a symbol of suffering, penance, or humiliation, but rather extol the holy Cross as a symbol of joy, victory and triumph, which are brought to fullness through the glorious Resurrection.

The Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy Cross, indeed, teaches us to understand the great significance the Holy Cross has for us, not only during the Lent, but also throughout our whole life. This Sunday tells us that wherever we find the Cross, there will we find strength, victory, salvation and the pledge of resurrection to eternal life of bliss.